Tag Archives: SSHF

From performances in small towns throughout Saskatchewan, to the international stage, Diamond Girls has been a home run! As we made preparations for our 50th anniversary, one very unique opportunity presented itself when Menagerie Productions and playwright, Maureen Ulrich, proposed a one-act, one-woman play featuring the Saskatchewan connection to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The leading actress has the challenging task of portraying a whopping 21 characters throughout this one hour performance including three Saskatchewan players, Mary “Bonnie” Baker, Arleene (Johnson) Noga, and Daisy Junor.

After putting on its first performance in June, 2016 we are thrilled to learn that Diamond Girls will be taking on international audiences in 2018! The girls of summer will be traveling to the world’s 2nd largest fringe festival in Adelaide, South Australia in March, 2018! To learn more about Diamond Girls, and their upcoming performances, please visit menageriepro.weebly.com.

As I reflect on the past year at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) I would like to start by thanking everyone who joined us at the induction dinner to celebrate our 2017 class of inductees. From Olympic champions to innovative builders and a trailblazing jockey who opened the door for women around the world, this year’s class of inductees exemplifies the remarkable athletes and builders that this province is proud to call our own. With a new group of seven officially enshrined, we are thrilled to carry forward the proud tradition of celebrating Saskatchewan sports excellence.

While the resumption of our annual induction dinner was the marquee event of 2017 it was far from the only thing happening around the hall. The SSHF continued moving forward from last year’s 50th anniversary with a number of exciting events throughout the year and we look forward to keeping the momentum going in the New Year. 2018 will be a busy sporting year for Saskatchewan and the SSHF will be right in the middle of it. Our traveling exhibit is scheduled to take its first winter travels and will be a part of many of the national sporting championships happening in Regina. We have also recently announced a new collections agreement with the Regina Pats and are excited to continue that partnership in 2018.

As I look back over our accomplishments of 2017, I would be remiss to not once again congratulate our Executive Director Sheila Kelly on her receipt of the very prestigious Bill Schroeder Distinguished Service Award from the International Sports Heritage Association. Sheila has been the sustaining constant of the SSHF for over a quarter century and her passion, dedication and leadership have had far reaching impacts across Canada and North America. Sheila is a very deserving recipient of this award and it is my pleasure to again congratulate her on this accomplishment.

On behalf of myself, and the Board of Directors I would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. We hope your 2017 was full of great memories with friends, families and teammates and wish you a safe and happy 2018.

As I step into the role of President of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) I thought it was only appropriate to look back at some of the distinguished leaders who have come before me over the past 50 years and give them thanks for their contributions to the SSHF. While there have been too many to list individually a special thank you goes to Linda Burnham, Scott Waters and Trent Fraser, the three Past Presidents that I have had the pleasure of working alongside while on the Board. All three of you have been instrumental in setting the Hall on its current path and providing a framework for the Hall’s continued success for its next 50 years and beyond. Thank you.

While 2016 was a landmark year with our 50th anniversary celebrations, we have strived to keep that excitement and energy going into 2017 through a number of different means. We were honoured to have been asked by the Province to have our traveling exhibit make its first out-of-province excursion and be showcased to represent Saskatchewan at the 2017 Jeux Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We are also pleased to see that Menagerie Productions is re-launching Diamond Girls in the fall.

One of the Board’s goals remains securing a long term space that will allow us to better display and preserve Saskatchewan’s rich and diverse sporting history; however, we are also excited to announce some continued changes to our current location in the coming weeks. These changes will continue to pursue the Board’s goal of making the Hall more interactive and engaging for visitors. All of these enhancements will be items we could take with us to a new space and are part of the Board’s goal of blending the permanency of a physical location with other mediums of interactions that will better allow us to tell the story of Saskatchewan sport across a broader audience.

After a pause last year to commemorate the prior 50 years’ inductees in 2017, we are excited to resume our inductions and honour a new slate of inductees. This year’s class of inductees highlights the depth and diversity of Saskatchewan’s sporting history. We invite you to take part in the celebration of these inductees with us on September 30th.

The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) has named Sheila Kelly, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF), as recipient of the prestigious Schroeder Award.

Presented periodically, the W.R. “Bill” Schroeder Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor presented by ISHA and is awarded to individuals for meritorious service of lasting nature in the sports heritage industry.

“Sheila has distinguished herself as an outstanding museum leader and strives for excellence in all aspects,” ISHA President Susan Wasser said. “Her engaging leadership skills, passion, dedication, and ingenuity has transformed sports heritage within Saskatchewan. We are thrilled to be able to honor Sheila with this award and provide her this well-deserved recognition.”

Sheila has served as Executive Director for the Hall of Fame for 28 years. During her tenure, she has impacted sports heritage from the local to the international levels by developing the Hall of Fame as the leading sports heritage association in the province. Additionally, she is credited with nurturing the development of multiple satellite halls, sports museum and sports heritage research projects. On behalf of the Hall of Fame, she also secured a formal agreement with the Province’s most successful sports team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, to house its entire collection.

“Sheila has been the sustaining factor behind the Hall for the more than 25 years and has impacted countless individuals not just across Saskatchewan, but across Canada and internationally as well,” said Rankin Jaworski, SSHF President. “ I have no doubt in my mind that the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame would not exist as it does today without Sheila and I’m beyond pleased to see her recognized on an international level with such a prestigious award for the time, energy and passion she has poured into the Hall.”

The official presentation of the Schroeder Award will take place on October 19, 2017, at “An Evening of Champions” as part of ISHA’s annual conference, hosted this year by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, October 18-20.

Each year, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame strives to preserve and promote the history of sport in Saskatchewan, and 2016 was no exception. Our 50th Anniversary was an incredibly exciting and successful year for the SSHF.

We started this year of celebration with an enthusiasm that kept gaining momentum with each new success. To finish the year by being named Tourism Saskatchewan’s Business of the Year Award (Under 20 Full-time Employees) was amazing recognition. We could never have imagined a more perfect end to our 50th Anniversary year.

Special thank you to all members of the Hall of Fame, your support over the past year has been overwhelming. We look forward to another 50 years!

With the close of 2016, and our 50th anniversary celebrations behind us, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) is embarking on another exciting year.

We were delighted to learn that the SSHF has been named a finalist for a Saskatchewan Tourism of Excellence Award in the category of “Business of the Year” (under 20 full-time employees). We are thrilled to receive that nomination and look forward to attending the Gala awards in April.

In 2016 we did not have an induction as the anniversary kept us very busy. However, in 2017 we will once again have an induction ceremony to welcome new inductees into the Hall. The media announcement to introduce this year’s class will be held at the SSHF on Thursday, April 27th.

Throughout the summer, our traveling exhibit will again be visiting a number of locations throughout the province. The exhibit was so well received last summer and it truly gives rural Saskatchewan a taste of what the SSHF has to offer.

We are also excited about some sporting events that Saskatchewan will be hosting in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 Skate Canada International, 2018 Memorial Cup and the Brier will each be located in Regina. These events bring awareness as well as drives sports fans to the city. We will certainly be showcasing these sports during those events and will be looking to draw fans to the Hall where we can promote the history and success of Saskatchewan athletes.

The SSHF staff continues to run education programs and the displays are changed frequently so each time a person visits, they see something new. We have been adding technology to our repertoire and our social media channels keep expanding with more followers. Thanks to all the staff, we appreciate that they are continually thinking of new ways to show us off!

Our Board still dreams of a new location where we can find space to break many items out of storage, and no doubt, one day we will find it. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank you for your support. We strive to have our inductees remain connected to the SSHF, and to have the general public share in the history and sporting successes of this great province.

Our 50th anniversary year is coming to a close and what a year it has been!

The celebrations throughout 2016 have included 3 major events, a 12 months-12 events series, as well as a dedication each week to one of our 51 represented sports.

Our first major event was Diamond Girls. This was a one-woman play depicting the stories of the Saskatchewan women who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The play travelled throughout the summer and received great reviews on every stage.

Next came our travelling exhibit. A semi-trailer, which has been retrofitted to house a display of artifacts, spent the summer travelling to a number of locations throughout the province. Our inductees represent over 140 Saskatchewan communities and the travelling exhibit enabled us to take the Hall to the people. If you missed your chance to see it this year, watch for us again in 2017!

The Gala was our last major event of the year. This was a very entertaining evening and we provided those in attendance with a view into the history of the SSHF. More details of this memorable event can be found throughout this newsletter.

We wish to thank everyone who attended our events throughout the year. We are very grateful for the support we received, and while we did not have an induction ceremony this year, we are currently reviewing the nominations for induction in 2017!

Our Board of Directors and staff also recently spent time at our annual retreat where we enjoyed getting to know each other, and also had a full day of business where our Strategic Plan was the focus of discussion. That plan will take us into the future with goals and direction that we continually work towards.

Throughout this hectic year it has become evident that our staff and board members are very committed and engaged, which will ensure that the SSHF continues to celebrate, preserve and promote the phenomenal sports history of our province.

On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. We hope you will connect with the SSHF personally as well as through our social medial channels.

I am honored to be President of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF). I acknowledge I have big shoes to fill, and I thank our immediate Past President Scott Waters for his dedication and service. We have a long line of Past Presidents who have contributed to advancements and successes the SSHF has experienced over the past years.

2016 has been a milestone for the SSHF as we celebrate our 50th anniversary. We have made that celebration last the entire year and have showcased three major events as highlights.

Diamond Girls is a play about the Saskatchewan women who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The one-act, one-woman show has toured several provinces over the last few months and it has received rave reviews everywhere it has played. We are so proud to be associated with Diamond Girls and proud to have some of those players as inductees in the SSHF.

Our next major event has been a traveling exhibit that is presently touring throughout communities in Saskatchewan. Our 505 inductees represent over 140 Saskatchewan communities and the traveling exhibit has been our way of taking the Hall to the people. Another major success, the traveling exhibit has provided us with great exposure throughout the province.

The final major event will be our Gala on September 30. We have chosen to forgo the induction of a new class this year in favor of celebrating the 505 current inductees. The successes of these inductees is cause for celebration and we wish to recognize them once again in this evening planned to be a one of a kind event. We will showcase several inductees in Hotstove panels representing Hockey, Football and Olympians. We also have some short videos prepared to showcase many of our inductees while it tells a story about the SSHF. We hope you will join us for this exciting evening.

While we celebrate our past, we also have challenges to accomplish ahead of us. Our Board of Directors is a group of individuals who are dedicated to making things happen, and have proven qualified to do so. Our plan is to still secure a new location for the SSHF which will allow us to better showcase the inductees and be more appropriate for the many wonderful artifacts we possess. We continue to search for sustainable fundraising to support the Hall. We have big dreams and those come at big costs!

I do want to recognize the amazing staff we have at the SSHF. They have all shown dedication to this year of celebration and have most willingly given of their time to ensure the success of every event. Thank you to Sheila, Vickie, Brock, Autumn and the summer staff, Amber, Danelle and Jenna, who have given the SSHF such dedication and commitment in this special year.

On behalf of the Board of Directors I thank you for your support. Please drop by the Hall, or the traveling exhibit and experience what the Hall is all about. Saskatchewan is a great sporting province. We recognize excellence. We celebrate sport.

Best wishes,

Linda Burnham, President

To find out more on our latest happenings at the SSHF, download the full version of the newest For The Record, right here:

Each year, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame strives to preserve and promote the history of sport in Saskatchewan, and 2015 was no exception. The Government of Canada named 2015 “The Year of Sport in Canada” and encouraged all Canadians to celebrate the role that sport plays in their identity.

Our 2015 Annual Report will highlight some key redevelopment, awareness and self help strategies. It will also recap the addition of new staff members, partnerships, exhibits and events that have helped position the SSHF for a very exciting and successful 50th year in 2016.

Special thank you to all members of the Hall of Fame, your support over the past year has been overwhelming. We look forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary with you.

Throughout our 50th anniversary the primary goal of the SSHF is to celebrate our inductees and showcase their back stories and accomplishments for the people of Saskatchewan. One very unique opportunity presented itself when Menagerie Productions and playwright, Maureen Ulrich, proposed a one-act, one-woman play featuring the Saskatchewan connection to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as a project to be pursued through the SSHF’s Sport History grant. With the support of Softball Saskatchewan, Women in Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation, and Saskatchewan Lotteries the project has become a reality. Here is Maureen’s back story to this unique 50th anniversary project.DIAMOND GIRLS: DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

Writing a one-act, one-woman show about the rise and fall of a baseball league is challenging, especially when eighteen players plus officials, fans, and coaches are required to play an actual game. Diamond Girls focuses on the involvement of three Saskatchewan women – Arleene Johnson Noga, Mary Baker, and Daisy Junor – who participated in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) during the 1940’s.

My relationship with Diamond Girls began with a Leader-Post article about a dedication to Mary Baker at Central Park, Regina. A League of Their Own is one of my favourite movies – and I wanted to learn more about the role Mary and other Saskatchewan women played in the AAGPBL.

It has been thrilling and sobering to get to know them through nonfiction books, newspaper and magazine articles, yearbooks, letters, photographs, and interviews with their families and Arleene herself. Mary, Arleene, and Daisy not only played in the AAGPBL – they were stars. Furthermore they didn’t stop competing when their pro baseball careers ended.

I deeply regret never starting down this path sixteen years ago when I first met Arleene – when many of the Saskatchewan ladies were still alive – but it simply did not occur to me. Nevertheless, Arleene, who played ball for six decades, has lost none of her passion or loyalty towards a league that sent her on countless road trips, many miles from home, to play in front of thousands of fans and set fielding records. In sportswriter Ned Powers’ words, “There are a few women who could play a position as well as a man, and Arleene was one of them.” Yes, Arleene has fueled my fire to get these three characters on stage as quickly as possible.

My first draft merely told their stories, but over time their competitive, vibrant, baseball savvy personalities have emerged, showing the audience how unique their experiences truly were. A process of continual revision has begun, as each word of dialogue and direction is carefully considered. How can I provide actress Colleen Sutton (RiderGirl) with the tools she needs to create clear and lasting images in the minds of her audience? After all she will be roleplaying multiple characters in a variety of settings – baseball diamonds and hotel rooms, even a television game show. Naturally I will lean heavily on Colleen’s comedic and dramatic expertise. It is our goal to make every “inning” of Diamond Girls (yes, there are nine!) funny, gritty, enlightening, or poignant.

Like the AAGPBL teams, Diamond Girls will be on the road most of the summer. Therefore, the set design must be minimal. Projections will be used at the beginning of the play both to create nostalgia and to acquaint the audience with the faces of all 25 Saskatchewan players. Two AAGPBL uniforms will be fabricated, as damage or loss of this important element would be devastating.

We are four months away from our first rehearsal in Estevan, but the groundwork for a solid, accurate, and entertaining story is slowly and carefully being laid. We hope you will see Diamond Girls if it travels to a community near yours. If you are interested in hosting a performance, please contact me or Sheila Kelly, as the tour schedule is still evolving.

I am indebted to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF), the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Softball Saskatchewan, Women in Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation, and Saskatchewan Lotteries for their enthusiastic assistance and support. I especially look forward to helping the SSHF celebrate its 50th anniversary year.

2016 is sure to be an exciting and a historic year, marking the 50th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF). Celebrations are currently underway, having officially begun in January with the first of our 12 Months, 12 Events initiative. The SSHF is also planning a Traveling Exhibit, scheduled to visit dozens of communities across Saskatchewan between July and October. More details will be announced in spring, 2016!

The 50th anniversary celebration culminates September 30, 2016 with a formal gala, along with other events. Full details of the 50th anniversary celebrations will be updated regularly on the SSHF’s website at www.sasksportshalloffame.com. While the 50th anniversary celebrations are currently at the forefront, we also remain focused on regular day-to-day operations and are busy planning many other exciting events for 2017 and beyond. As mentioned in an earlier message the SSHF has undergone great transition and improvements in recent years, and the staff and Board of Directors remain focused on providing visitor enhancements to the SSHF, and continuing to deliver a great product to our members and to the public at-large.

I would like to formally welcome a new member to the Board of Directors, and also acknowledge and thank two long-serving members of the Board who recently resigned. Joining the board is Kevin Dureau of Regina. We look forward to working with Kevin and are excited about the passion, experience and perspective he will bring to the organization. I would also like to thank two board members who recently stepped down; Vance McNab and Hugh Vassos, who completed four and eleven years of service, respectively. During their tenure each contributed greatly to the SSHF, serving on several committees and in various roles, with Hugh Vassos recently serving as President and then as Past President of the SSHF.

The Board of Directors and staff of the SSHF held their annual retreat January 8th and 9th at Manitou Springs Resort and Mineral Spa at Manitou Beach. Much was accomplished and a good time was had by all. We had the added delight of being joined for lunch by SSHF inductee Leroy Coates and his wife, Marlene who currently reside in nearby Watrous.

On behalf of the SSHF Board of Directors I would like to wish you the best for the remainder of the winter season and upcoming spring season. Please stay in touch and stay connected with the SSHF (and encourage friends and family to do the same) through our Social Media channels.

I am excited, honoured and humbled to have been elected President of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF). I will do my best to carry out my duties well, keeping in mind the many impressive and notable individuals who have held the position since the inception of the SSHF in 1966. I would be remiss in not specifically acknowledging my immediate predecessor, Trent Fraser, whose passion and energy will be difficult to match.

A little about myself…I am a lawyer from Saskatoon, practicing with the firm McDougall Gauley LLP. I have a beautiful wife, Carmen, and three children, who keep me very busy. I have been a member of the board of directors of the SSHF since 2006, and a member of the Executive Committee for several years. During this time the SSHF has undergone great transition and has seen many improvements, including the addition of several exciting new staff members as well as a re-branding and updated website and full immersion into the world of social media. It remains a priority to secure a more suitable location for the SSHF, which is necessary for ongoing success and sustainability. In the meantime, we are focusing on providing the best product we can with our current resources and have made vast improvements to the current location; wherever possible ensuring such improvements are transferable to a new location.

On June 13, 2015 the SSHF held its annual Induction Dinner at the Conexus Arts Centre, which was a great success and celebrated a diverse group of athletes, teams and builders. Many inductees, family and friends travelled great distances to attend the celebration, and they were treated to an excellent evening. I would like to specifically acknowledge Sheila Kelly, Executive Director, staff and volunteers, as well as the Induction Dinner committee who all worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the event.

I would like to formally welcome a new member to the board of directors, and also acknowledge and thank three long-serving members of the board. Joining the board is David Belof of Regina. We look forward to working with David and are particularly excited about the experience and perspective he will bring. I would also like to thank three board members who recently stepped down; Greg Indzeoski, Paul Spasoff and Steve Chisholm, who completed ten, eleven and four years of service, respectively. During their tenure they all contributed greatly to the SSHF, particularly with regard to the Induction celebrations, Sport History committee, and Communications committee.

We are looking forward to participating in the 3rd Annual Rider Alumni Tournament (Saskatoon) being held Wednesday, September 23rd at Dakota Dunes Golf Course located south of Saskatoon. We are also very excited for 2016, which will mark the 50th Anniversary of the SSHF; celebration plans are underway and will be revealed in due course.

On behalf of the SSHF board of directors I would like to wish you the best for the remainder of the summer and fall seasons. Please stay in touch and stay connected with the SSHF through our website at www.sasksportshalloffame.com, our Facebook page at SaskSportsHF, our Instagram at SaskSportsHF and on Twitter @SaskSportsHF.

In addition to welcoming our new President, there have been plenty of other changes within the walls of the galleries. If you haven’t already done so, we invite everyone to come check out our latest exhibit Dedication to Sport: Our Newest Inductees, which was officially opened in conjunction with the 49th Induction celebrations on June 13. Also, don’t forget to put us in your calendars as the SSHF has multiple exciting events on the horizon!

To find out more on our latest happenings at the SSHF, download the full version of the newest For The Record, right here:

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is looking for Gallery Hosts/Interpreters.

This opportunity includes the following responsibilities:

Opening & Closing procedures for the Hall of Fame exhibit galleries on weekdays for after hour special event bookings and on weekends for regular operating hours including, but not limited to:
• Assisting with the delivery of SSHF guest services
• Supervising the multi-sport simulator
• Assisting with the delivery of SSHF programming, including setup and cleanup, as required
• Housekeeping – dusting shelves, vacuuming floors, cleaning glass fixtures, etc.

Perfect for part-time summer employment, the position will include regular and/or casual hours available starting Saturday, May 16, 2015.

We are looking for team members who have:
• Interest in, and knowledge of, Saskatchewan sport
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong communication skills
• Strong inter-personal skills
• Reached 16 years of age or older

The new members of our team will work with us at the Hall of Fame, located at 2205 Victoria Avenue, right here in Regina. The position comes with salary of $11/hr. Not to mention all the great experience you will get, working with one of Saskatchewan’s most history institutions!

If this sounds like you, please submit a resume, along with cover letter to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame – Attn: Executive Director by May 1, 2015.

The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (SSHF) has received some welcomed financial support thanks to the Saskatchewan Roughriders Alumni Association. The Rider Alumni Association has provided the SSHF with $10,000 as part of the proceeds raised from the alumni association’s first annual Autumn Golf Classic held September 23, 2013, at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club. The Autumn Golf Classic raised a net profit of $20,000.

“The SSHF does a tremendous job of preserving the history of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and many of our alumni are proud members of the SSHF,” said Terry Bulych, Rider Alumni Association President. “We are pleased to be able to give back and support this great provincial institution which does so much to preserve the legacy of not only the Riders, but all of Saskatchewan’s sporting greats.”

“We truly appreciate the support of the Riders Alumni Association,” said Trent Fraser, President of the SSHF. “These moneys enable the SSHF to continue to properly maintain the important sporting past of our province as well allows us to continue to educate the public of Saskatchewan’s rich sport history.”

The Rider Alumni Association and the SSHF thanks all participants and sponsors of the Autumn Golf Classic.